Catheter-type iontophoresis device

Abstract

A catheter-type iontophoresis device is adapted to cause a drug solution to permeate into a cancer site or the like of a digestive organ on a pinpoint basis by iontophoresis. The catheter-type iontophoresis device includes a working electrode assembly and a non-working electrode assembly for administering a drug by iontophoresis. A DC electric power source is connected to the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly with opposite polarities, and a rod-like member supports the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly at its tip. The rod-like member is detachably supported at a tip of a flexible cable supported by an endoscopic device.

1 . A catheter-type iontophoresis device, comprising:
 a working electrode assembly spaced apart from a non-working electrode assembly for administering a drug by iontophoresis;   a DC electric power source connected to the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly with opposite polarities:
 a rod-like member supporting the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly at a tip of the rod-like member; and 
 an endoscopic device detachably supporting the rod-like member, 
 the rod-like member detachably supported at a tip of a flexible cable supported by the endoscopic device. 
   
   
   
       2 . The catheter-type iontophoresis device of  claim 1 , wherein the drug comprises a photosensitive material that is activated by absorbing light, and the endoscopic device includes an optical system for applying light near the working electrode assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The catheter-type iontophoresis device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the endoscopethe endoscopic device further includes an imaging system having an optical fiber for transmitting light to an inside of an organism and an optical fiber for transmitting reflected light to an outside of the organism; and   the optical system includes the optical fiber for transmitting light to the inside of the organism.   
   
   
       4 . The catheter-type iontophoresis device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the flexible cable includes an electric power source side working electrode terminal and an electric power source side non-working electrode terminal connected via wiring to the DC electric power source;   the rod-like member includes a working electrode side contact and a non-working electrode side contact at a proximal end thereof, which are detachably connected to the electric power source side working electrode terminal and the electric power source side non-working electrode terminal, respectively; and   the working electrode side contact and the non-working electrode side contact are connected to a working electrode and a non-working electrode the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly, respectively.   
   
   
       5 . The catheter-type iontophoresis device of  claim 4 , wherein the endoscopic device further comprises a controller configured to adjust a value for a current of the DC electric power source and an energization time period, the controller disposed between each of the electric power source side working electrode terminal and the electric power source side non-working electrode terminal and the DC electric power source. 
   
   
       6 . The catheter-type iontophoresis device of  claim 1 , wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are arranged such that central axes thereof are parallel to each other. 
   
   
       7 . The catheter-type iontophoresis device of  claim 1 , wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are arranged such that central axes thereof spread apart in a proximal direction. 
   
   
       8 . The catheter-type iontophoresis device of  claim 1 , wherein the working electrode assembly and the non-working electrode assembly are arranged such that central axes thereof spread apart in a distal direction. 
   
   
       9 . The catheter-type iontophoresis device of  claim 1 , wherein the working electrode assembly comprises:
 the a working electrode connected to the DC electric power source having a same polarity as that of a charged ion of the drug;   an electrolyte solution holding portion holding an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution holding portion disposed on a front surface of the working electrode;   a second ion exchange membrane passage of ions having a polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the drug, the second ion exchange membrane disposed on a front surface of the electrolyte solution holding portion;   a drug solution holding portion holding the drug, the drug solution holding portion disposed on a front surface of the second ion exchange membrane; and   a first ion exchange membrane permitting of ions having the same polarity as that of the charged ion of the drug, the first ion exchange membrane disposed on a front surface of the drug solution holding portion; and   wherein the non-working electrode assembly comprises:
 the a non-working electrode connected to the DC electric power source with the polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the drug; 
 a second electrolyte solution holding portion holding a second electrolyte solution, the second electrolyte solution holding portion disposed on a front surface of the non-working electrode; 
 a third ion exchange membrane permitting passage of ions having the polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the drug, the third ion exchange membrane disposed on a front surface of the second electrolyte solution holding portion; 
 a third electrolyte solution holding portion holding a third electrolyte solution, the third electrolyte solution holding portion disposed on a front surface of the third ion exchange membrane; and 
 a fourth ion exchange membrane permitting passage of ions having the polarity opposite to that of the charged ion of the drug, the fourth ion exchange membrane disposed on a front surface of the third electrolyte solution holding portion.